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Benny the Bull wins male sprinter Eclipse Award

Posted: Monday, January 26, 2009 9:12 PM

BENNY THE BULL

Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins photo

by Pete Denk

Four victories on four different tracks, including a trip to Nad al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, earned Benny the Bull the title of champion male sprinter of 2008.

The now six-year-old horse was retired in late August after developing ankle chips and he missed the fall races, including the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

IEAH Stables co-President Michael Iavarone said in his acceptance speech for the Eclipse Award on Monday night that Benny the Bull would attempt a comeback.

"We just want to let everybody know that Benny the Bull will be making a return to the races, that we are taking him out of retirement and we are bringing him back in late summer to try to retain his title," Iavarone said.

Already a Grade 1 winner—he closed 2007 with a win in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (G1)—Benny the Bull signaled himself as a contender for champion sprinter in his first race of '08, the Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

A lazy horse in the morning and a closer who often dwells far off the pace, Benny the Bull proved to be consistent throughout the season as he won all four of his starts and earned more $1,753,080 for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. and owners IEAH Stables, Andrew Cohen, and Greg James.

“He just got into a zone this year,” Dutrow said. “Benny ran incredible races for us. We were just so happy to have him. He’s one of the funniest, coolest horses I’ve ever been around.”

Dutrow credited Iavarone for the decision to purchase Benny the Bull privately after he won the 2007 Iowa Sprint Handicap at Prairie Meadows Racetrack.

He also said exercise riders Michelle Nevin and Rudy Rodriguez helped Benny the Bull develop into a champion by “letting Benny be Benny” in the mornings.

Pete Denk is Thoroughbred Times sales editor